Books & Bagels May 2016

Avoid the Summer Slide Fill your home with books: Research tells us that one of the most basic differences between a proficient reader and a struggling reader is the volume of words, books, poems and songs he or she is engaged in (Allington). A book filled home inspires learning and nurtures a love of reading. The public library has so many books to choose from. Make a special library basket at home, fill it up with books your child helps choose, and switch them out often at the public library or our very own Creekside book box out front Sign up for the Summer Library Program: Each library in our county has a fantastic summer reading program with prizes and a sheet to set goals and keep track of your reading. Hang the tracking sheet in your home and keep your library card handy! The following library websites will get you started: Louisville: Lafayette: (select library) Broomfield: (select Children’s Library) Boulder: (Click Kids) Nederland:

Avoid the Summer Slide Read TO your child: Cuddle up and read to your child. You are never too old to hear books read aloud in English or in any language. Let your child hear you enjoy the story, wondering, questioning and thinking out loud as you read. Don’t insist that your child is silent as you read. Instead, encourage them to share and talk about the book with you. “I wonder why… I notice that in this picture…Hmmm, let’s read that part again to make sure we understand… So what’s happened so far is… I love this part where the author… Oh, that character is so...” For older students, you may want to pick a chapter book series that is a bit too hard for your child to read independently and read a chapter out loud to him/her every day. Hearing books read out loud not only increases vocabulary and comprehension but the memories you are making together motivate readers to seek out more books. Avoid making reading time “quiz time”. Enjoy the book together.

Avoid the Summer Slide Read WITH your child : It can be tricky to know how to help your child while he or she is reading. Here are some tips about what to say and do: Before Reading: Explore the pictures. Ask, “Hmm…what do you predict this book might be about? I think... What do we already know about…? I know...” During Reading: If your child is stuck or makes a mistake that changes the meaning, model what good readers do. “Hmm… I don’t think that makes sense. Do you? Let’s read it again, say the first sound and think about the story. Now, does that make sense?” “That doesn’t look right. Let’s say the first, middle and ending sounds and check the picture. Do you see a part you know in that word? Let’s check the middle.” After Reading all or part of book: Ask, “What has happened so far? What did we learn? Where does it tell us that in the book? Let’s be detectives and prove it. “ Reading DON’T’s: Don’t say, “Sound it out”. Many words can’t be sounded out. Do try, “Say the first sound and think about what makes sense.” You want your child to say the sounds and think about a word that would make sense at the same time. Don’t correct your child if the mistake makes sense. Let him or her keep going. At the end of a page, you might say, “ You said____. That made sense but it didn’t look right. Let’s read this part again and fix it up. Don’t say “Read Faster” or “Read Slower”. Do model the behavior. Try, “Listen to me make it sound smooth like talking,” or, “Listen to me pause at the periods and slow my voice down.”

Avoid the Summer Slide Make a cozy reading spot for your child to read by themselves, to a stuffed animal, to a friend, a sibling, or TO you. It’s amazing what a special spot can do. Help your child find his or her spot -­‐ under a tree, with a fuzzy pillow, or even a big cardboard box!

Avoid the Summer Slide Book Lists: How do I find great books? Here are just a few of the many websites with great book ideas ­‐ Click “Parents” for great book ideas (has Spanish book lists too) The Colorado Association for Gifted Children and Talented Conference Handout Guided Reading Leveled Book Searching Tool (Grade level Benchmark Document)

Write Every Day: Find a special summer notebook for your child. The Target $1 section is a great place to start. Let your child decorate it. Suggested Activities for K-2 ●Stop in the middle of a book and predict what the ending of the story will be. ●Draw a picture of your prediction and dictate or write sentences explaining your prediction. ●Dictate or write how the story reminds you of a situation or event in your own life. ●Come up with a different ending for the story and write it. ●Find a new or interesting vocabulary word. Use it in a sentence. Keep a log of the new words you learned this summer while you read. Share your log with your teacher. ●Write a recommendation for a book to share with a friend. Tell about the characters, the problem in the story, or some interesting information. Don’t give away the ending! ●Make a connection between the story you read and any other story/stories you’ve read or heard. ●Tell or write how they are similar. Avoid the Summer Slide -Writing

Suggested Activities for 3-5 ● Summarize one of your fiction books by creating a picture or cartoon strip. ● Write a paragraph about what you think the author’s purpose was for writing the book. ● Pretend you are one of the characters in the story and create a diary or journal. Write at least five entries that might have been written by that character. ● Record yourself reading a book and replay it so that you can listen to yourself read. Repeat this activity so that you can listen to yourself improve. ● Choose a character in your book, and name one thing you admire about that character. Write to tell why you admire him or her. ● Divide a paper into thirds and label the sections "Beginning", "Middle", and "End". Write at least one sentence for each part of the story. ● Create a bookmark or book jacket illustrating a scene from the book using your own artwork. Be sure to put the title and author on your work. ● Read a nonfiction book and write five facts you learned from your reading. ● Read historical fiction, tell or write about three things that were different in this book from life today. ● Write a recommendation for a book to share with a friend. Tell about the characters, the problem in the story, or some interesting information. Don't give away the ending.. Avoid the Summer Slide

Make learning fun! Write a postcard to friend or family member when on a summer trip Send a handwritten letter to someone special Create a family cookbook and try out the recipes Write your own comic book and illustrate Create a photo book from a family trip and write captions to the pictures Keep a summer journal Practice sight words/letters in the sand Try a kid friendly private blogging site Practice letters/words with sidewalk chalk The possibilities for fun learning are endless!

Avoid the Summer Slide-Additional Ideas, links, & apps Click on the image to the right for fun ideas and links for primary and intermediate!

Using iReady or Reading Plus Programs If your child has been working on iReady or Reading Plus lessons this school year it is available over summer break for continued use. iReady Username: first intial+last initial + student ID/lunch # (example: jb50622) Password: student ID/lunch # (example: 50622) Website Link: Reading Plus Username: first initial + 7 digits of last name + last 4 of student ID/lunch # (example: jbracken0622) Password: student ID/lunch # (example: bvsd50622) Website Link: